los angeles paramount tour

© 2 024 Paramount Pictures Studio Tour

PARAMOUNT PICTURES

TERMS OF USE

PRIVACY POLICY

CALIFORNIA NOTICE

YOUR PRIVACY CHOICES

PARAMOUNT PICTURES

TERMS OF USE

PRIVACY POLICY

CALIFORNIA NOTICE

YOUR PRIVACY CHOICES

PRODUCTION OFFICES

LIGHTING SERVICES

GRIP SERVICES

TRANSPORTATION

WOOD MOULDING

CONSTRUCTION SUPPLIES

POST PRODUCTION

SCREENING ROOMS

SERVICES & AMENITIES

FORMS & OTHER INFO

STUDIO LOT MAPS

NEW YORK BACKLOT

BLUE SKY TANK

OTHER LOT LOCATIONS

© 2024 The Studios At Paramount

Paramount Pictures Studio Tour

• See all photos

Hollywood Tour: Sightseeing by Electric Bike

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Paramount Pictures Studio Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024) - Tripadvisor

• STUDIO TOURS
• STUDIO TOUR APP
• PARAMOUNT MOVIES
• ACCESSIBILITY and SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
• CONTACT/DIRECTIONS

Explore over a century of Hollywood history and witness more in the making. This 3-hour intimate look behind Paramount’s iconic gates includes all the features of the Studio Tour experience, plus you’ll learn firsthand where some of the most celebrated motion pictures and TV shows are made with exclusive access to props and set items in our legendary Archive facility and Backlot Operations Departments. With the Premier Tour, you'll arrive a welcomed guest and leave a true industry insider.

Copyright © Paramount Studio Tours 2024

Paramount Pictures Studio Tour

• See all photos

Hollywood Tour: Sightseeing by Electric Bike

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

PARAMOUNT PICTURES STUDIO TOUR (Los Angeles) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Things To Do

• Attractions
• Plan Your Trip
• Burbank Itineraries & Trip Ideas
• BOOK YOUR TRIP
• VISITORS GUIDE DOWNLOAD
• TRAVEL UPDATES
• VISITOR’S GUIDE
• SPONSORSHIP
• PLAN A MEETING
• Studio Tours
• TV Show Taping
• Filmed in Burbank
• Outdoor Adventure
• Arts & Culture

Neighborhoods

• Media District
• Magnolia Park
• Downtown Burbank
• Airport District

Beyond Burbank

• Burbank is close to Los Angeles’ top attractions – discover now!

Burbank Visitor's Guide

sign up for our newsletter

Paramount studio tour.

5555 Melrose Ave Los Angeles CA 90038

Experience more than 100 years of Hollywood history with an intimate, guided tour of the Paramount Pictures studio lot offering an insider’s look at the longest operating and only remaining major studio in Hollywood.

Explore over a century of Hollywood history and witness more in the making with an intimate tour of the Paramount Pictures studio lot. During your visit, a knowledgeable guide will lead your small group on a behind-the-scenes look at the longest operating and only remaining major studio in Hollywood. You’ll see where some of the most celebrated motion pictures and TV shows were made and leave feeling like a part of film history.

Depending on how much time you have and how much you want to experience, there are three exclusive tour options:

• An intimate, behind-the-scenes look of the overall Paramount legacy and studio lot.
• An in-depth, insider’s experience, which includes special access to even more Hollywood history and magic unavailable to the general public.
• Begin your journey while the moon rises over Hollywood’s most historic studio lot. Flashlights provided but bring your own sense of adventure!

Average Review

Old Hollywood at its best! This was our last studio tour on our trip and it was the most fancy one. Paramount is an old studio and they have made some classic old timey movies over the years. Full Review

My friends and I had an unforgettable tour the other day with Dante, the tour guide. He was super nice and we quickly bonded with him over our love for movies. He was incredibly knowledgable about the history of the studio lot as well as movies in general! He took his time with us and answered all of our questions. He told us he wants to be a movie producer one day. With the enthusiasm and passion for movies that he exuded on our tour, that will surely happen someday. As for the tour itself, we loved seeing the iconic props and set pieces in the prop house, as well as other famous spots around the lot. Full Review

This tour is so much fun! I did the after dark VIP tour and they give you champagne and boxed candies during the tour! Full Review

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

Dine at the castaway

Receive a Free Dessert

Which Is The Best Hollywood Studio Tour For You?

Posted on Published: June 29, 2019  - Last updated: February 26, 2024

Categories North America , California , Travel

There are four major Hollywood studio tours that you can go on in and around Los Angeles : Warners Bros., Sony, Paramount, and Universal Studio Tours.

It’s really not necessary to do all of them , especially on the same trip. There’s quite a bit of overlap between each studio tour, and the ticket prices can really add up.

Throughout my visits to California, I’ve managed to visit all 4 Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles (and some more than once!).

Here’s my in-depth reviews of all the major Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles. This is what to expect from each one so you can decide which is the best studio tour in los Angeles for you!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Why Should You Go On A Hollywood Studio Tour?

Hollywood Studio Tours in Los Angeles are a great way to gain an “ all-access” pass to the biggest backstage lots in California .

They give you a chance to go behind the scenes on some of your favourite movies and TV shows.

You’ll get to see the sets and props, and learn about the magic of making movies. And, if you’re lucky, you might get the chance to either see a live film set or a celebrity at work . 

Let’s just say, visit a movie set is a quintessential Los Angeles activity … p.s. see my L.A. guide here .

Which Is The Best Hollywood Studio Tour For You ?

The best Hollywood studio tour for you will depend on three main factors :

• Your favourite films and TV shows

The studio tours vary in budget and tour length. The price ranges between $55 to $110 / ticket . And the tour can last anywhere between one to three hours .

But your favourite movies and TV shows are the most important factor when deciding which studio tour in Los Angeles to go to. If you haven’t watched anything the studio has produced, you’ll be less interested in what you’re seeing and learning about.

Best Studio Tours In LA: Overview

Plan the ultimate vacation

My  digital travel planner template  has everything you need to plan your vacation: research templates, travel planner itinerary, travel budget templates…etc. . You can print it out or use it digitally on your phone, tablet, or computer.

P.S. Get an additional discount on my Etsy shop with my code ATRLOVE !

Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour

Universal Studios is a bit of a unique studio tour in Los Angeles. The studio tour can only be accessed if you buy a ticket to the entire theme park .

This also puts the studio tour at a much higher price point compared to the others around Los Angles. But, on the other hand, it is an ENTIRE day of activities instead of a few hours.

The tour itself is only 60 minutes but there are no shortage of other rides and shows to see once you’re in the park.

Quick Information & Links

Total Time : 1 hour (not including wait time in line) Admission : $109 -$119* (includes access to the entire park, price varies depending on the season) Book Tickets for Universal Studios Hollywood . Parking : Starts at $32* (General Parking)

*Updated January 2024

Movies Referred To/ Filmed Here:

You should check out this Hollywood studio tour if you’re a fan of…

• Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• Jurassic Park
• Fast and the Furious
• Jordan Peele’s horror epic, NOPE

Pros Of The Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour

You are on the LARGEST film and TV studio in Hollywood and the world! You get to drive by some of the most iconic sets in all movie history.

You drive-by the sound stages, new and old sets.

But this is still a ride in a theme park so they’ve added some more ride-like adventure elements to make things more exciting, unlike any other Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles.

At times you feel like you’re in the movie rather than just seeing where one was filmed!

And it’s not all for show either, they do still use these sets to film. In fact, this was the only Hollywood studio tour where I caught a live taping , so it’s still possible to see!

One thing’s certain though, you won’t be bored for a second on this tour even if you don’t happen to see an active film set during your tour. 

P.S. Make the most of your time at Universal Studios and book an Express Line ticket through Viator here . It gives you one-time express access to each ride, show, and attraction at the park !

Cons Of The Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour

It’s the least personal studio tour in Los Angeles. You’re on a tram the entire time for 60 minutes straight, with about 30 other people!

As I said, this tour is sometimes more of a ride than a studio tour (so it’s both a pro and a con!).

At times, the tour felt very streamlined , because most of it is. You still have a guide, but he’s following a script on a set path so it’s the same tour every time (unlike the others which have a bit more variance based on your guide).

The tram is on a set course and there are timed animatronics and effects throughout the tour.

Value For Money – Movie Location Los Angeles

I will admit, you get pretty good value for your money with your tickets to Universal studios. But that’s only if you wanted to visit the theme park.

If you were already planning on visiting Universal Studios Hollywood, then the studio tour is a must-do ride! 

But if you don’t like theme parks, and your only interest is the Hollywood studio tour, I wouldn’t recommend paying for the entire theme park just for the tour.

You might also be interested in reading…

• How To Plan Your Los Angeles Vacation

Logistics: What To Know Before You Go

A tram leaves about every 30 minutes for the Universal Studios Hollywood studio tour so the line builds up pretty quickly. I’d prioritize this as one of your first rides of the day.

As I said, don’t expect reality with this one, they do show you real sets but it’s also still a ride. So you’ll get a lot of gimmicky routines created specifically for this tour. 

Also, some advance warning, you might get wet at certain points during the ride. If you’d prefer to not get wet, try to sit in the middle of the row.

Book Universal Studio Tours Tickets In Advance Through Viator

Book General Admission tickets →

Book Skip the Line Express Tickets →

Book the VIP Experience on Viator (giving your exclusive access to off-limits areas of the park) →

For more Los Angeles organized tours from Viator, click here .

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

Warner Bros. Studio is actually in Burbank California , but it’s close enough to Los Angeles.

Warner Bros. studio tour takes you on a tram around different parts of the studio, with only around 12 guests at a time on the tour.

So unlike Universal Studios Hollywood studio tour, it’s a lot more personal and you’re only on the tram to get from place to place (because their lot is HUGE!).

You drive by sound stages and countless outdoor sets. But you’ll get off and walk around a bit, even walking in some sets if you’re lucky. So you should be prepared for some walking on this studio tour in Los Angeles!

Total Time : ~3 hours (1 hour guided, 2 hours unguided). Leaves every 30 minutes from 9:30 to 3:30 Admission : 70$* Parking : 15$* Website

What Was Filmed Here (Sets You Might See!)

Check out this Hollywood studio tour if you’re a fan of…

• Harry Potter
• Gilmore Girls
• Back to the Future
• The Big Bang Theory
• Pretty Little Liars

So Much More Than A Studio Tour

Over the years, the Warner Bros. studio tour has grown. It’s no longer just a backlot tour, now, that’s just one part of it…

Museums, Props, Sets, & Photo Ops At Warner Bros. Studio

Tickets to the Warner Bros. studio tour also includes interactive museums where you’ll want to take all the pictures you can!

You can interact with different sets from your favourite movies and TV sets, like Friends, the Big Bang Theory and Harry Potter! on the magic of movies, costume

There’s also an entire exhibit on the DC universe with all superheroe and villain props. They have Aquaman’s lair, Wonder Woman’s study, Superman’s office, and the Batman’s bat cave.

And finally they have an in-depth exhibit on all things filmmaking. Staring with the writing process and finishing with the special effects of movie making.

Book Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tickets With Viator

General Admission tickets →

Pros Of The Warner Bros. Studio Tour

They are constantly updating the Warner Bros. studio tour – that means you can even go back the next time you’re in Los Angeles, I’ve already gone back twice!

There was some over lap with the sets and information, but very little. A lot had been updated and added to the tour. And I’ve already noticed that they’ve added a lot more content since I’ve gone!

Also, the guided portion of the tour will rarely be the same. For starters, where you go will all depend on what they’re filming at the time. So not only can it change over the years, but it can change within the hour!

It’s also a very personal tour with only being 12 people on the tram. You can also all your questions about movie magic!

Never forget a favourite travel memory

Keep track of your travels every day with my digital and printable travel journal . Use it on the go on your phone or tablet, or print it out!

P.S. Get an additional discount on my Etsy shop with my code ATRLOVE .

Cons Of The Warner Bros. Studio Tour

With all the new additions to the tour every year, I’ve noticed the guided portion has become less and less…

The guided tour portion is only hour , and then two hours are a self guided tour through the museums.

But it’s the guided portion of the tour that’s always fresh and what brings me back! I’m a bit disappointed that the museums seem to have taken over the tour now, making the tour a bit more gimmicky and less about touring real sets and sound stages…

How to See San Diego in One Day

Bring government I.D. when you visit, and make sure to arrive early!

You have to go through security and there might be a lineup. They suggest arriving 30 minutes in advance.

Don’t worry about getting lost on your way to the studios (if you’re driving there)! I followed the instructions we were given on how to get to the visitor’s centre, but my GPS brought me to the wrong gate. No need to panic if this happens to you too! The patrol was very understanding (I’m sure this happens all the time) and told us exactly where to go.

If you’re driving, there’s a parking lot across the street from the visitor’s centre (paid, of course). The studio is in a pretty secluded area, but there’s a Starbucks in the visitor’s centre .

You can book Warner Brothers Studio tour tickets in advance on Viator here .

Paramount Pictures Hollywood Studio Tour

Paramount Pictures is really interesting because it’s the last Hollywood studio still in Hollywood (well in Los Angeles). 

So it’s only about a 15-minute drive from Hollywood Blvd. FYI, Warner is in Burbank, and Sony is in Culver City.

It was very similar to Warner Bros. Hollywood studio tour in terms of the scale of the studio. They have several sound stages, a water tank, and a totally customizable New York set.

Like the other Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles, there’s a museum portion of the tour with props. Paramount Pictures one had a lot of “ unwanted ” props (those that could only be used once for the film they were designed for).

There was A LOT of props from the Transformers franchise, but there were also Star Trek, Gladiator, and Dream Girls props.

Time : 2 hours * They leave every 30 minutes from 9:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Admission : 65$* Parking : $22 – (used to be cash only)* Website

What Was/ Is Filmed Here

• The Godfather
• OG King Kong (In Set 19)
• Breakfast at Tiffanys
• Forrest Gump

Pros Of Paramount Pictures Studio Tour In Los Angeles

The best part about the Paramount Pictures Hollywood studio tour tour was the small size of the group. There’s a max of 7 people on the tour (you’re in an 8 seater golf cart).

The tour also provided earphones to be able to perfectly hear your tour guide at all times, so they didn’t have to shout at you! There can be a lot going on on sets with a lot of noises, so the earphones were definitely appreciated.

I also liked that they provided visuals for what you were looking at during the tour. Our tour guide carried around an iPad showing examples of what a specific set was used for over the years. So instead of looking at a giant green screen, they showed us how that green screen was used in different films.

Cons Of Paramount Pictures Studio Tour

Paramount Pictures studio tour taught me a few things about Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles…

First, the quality of the tour really depends on your tour guide – they can make or break your visit. And unfortunately, you won’t really know who you’re going to get beforehand.

Unfortunately for me, my tour guide at Paramount Pictures wasn’t the best. There’s so much history to this Hollywood studio that I ended up lost most of the time because I didn’t know who or what he was referring to, I guess the references were also a bit ahead of my time…

Paramount Studio tour also really showed me how important it is to have seen (or at least heard of) the films or shows the studio produced. 

So if you’re a fan of classics like I Love Lucy, Alfred Hitchcock, or the original King Kong then Paramount Pictures studio tour is a must for you!

For me, Paramount Pictures studio tour was a bit of a mixed bag. I really see the potential of this tour though, but I think you have to be a really big movie buff to enjoy Paramount Pictures studio tour.

The visitor parking is across the street from the main gates. Be wary of the address on Google Maps, it brought me to the wrong gate.

When I visited, parking was cash only, so it’s always good to be prepared. There’s an ATM you can use at the end of the tour if you need (apparently no one does cash back in the area…).

Like the other tours, you have to show I.D. and go through security, so they ask you to arrive 30 minutes before your tour . But, in case there’s no wait at all, there’s a mini-exhibit you can visit to pass the time before your tour starts. 

Make sure to bring water and food, there’s really not much in the area. But drinks aren’t allowed on the tour itself, so leave it in the car!

SONY Studio Hollywood Tour

SONY Hollywood studio tour ended up being my favourite studio tour . We were only about 5 people on this tour, so it was very personal. But I don’t know if this was the max, or that fewer people happened to sign up for it.  

I know online there are 25 spots per time slot. I don’t know if that’s the typical tour size on a busier day, or if they would always split you up into smaller groups once you get there.

There are famous cars on display from movies and shows (like Breaking Bad and Ghostbusters). They also have a prop museum at the start of the tour. There’s even an Oscar and an Emmy award you can see (and even hold!). 

Time : 2 hours * Leaves 4 times a day: 9:30, 10:30, 1:30 and 2:30. Admission : 55$* Parking : Free Valet Website

What Was Filmed Here

• Breaking Bad
• Wheel of Fortune
• Ghostbusters
• The Goldbergs

Pros Of The SONY Studio Tour

SONY is a MUCH smaller studio than the other three Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles. That means you don’t even need a tram to get around, we walked everywhere (so you should also be prepared to walk!). This made it easier to take appreciate it all and take pictures!

I also absolutely loved our tour guide, he was by far my favourite out of all the ones we had on any tour. It didn’t seem like he simply memorized a script. It was as if he lived and breathed SONY and films in general. I would’ve believed it if he’d told us he grew up on set.

We also got the chance to walk on to a sound stage from one of my favourite TV Shows – The Goldbergs. And our guide brought us onto a working foley stage (where they create extra sounds for movies). 

If a sound or foley stage isn’t available to see, you are guaranteed to see either the Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy set . They film on opposite days, so you’ll always be able to see one of them.

But the best perk of all is… You get your picture taken on the set of either Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune, which they’ll print out and give to you as a souvenir… FREE OF CHARGE! ! Seriously when is anything ever free these days…

Cons Of The SONY Hollywood Studio Tour

As I mentioned, there’s no tram for the SONY Hollywood studio tour. Although the studio isn’t as large as the others, you have to be prepared to walk quite a bit.

Another sort of pro and con is that it’s 80 % outdoors . So you really want to go when it’s decent weather. And be prepared to be in the sun!

How to Make the Most of Your Time in Long Beach California

Value For Money – Hollywood Studio Tours In Los Angeles

I think you get a lot of value for your money at SONY studio tour. It’s the cheapest out of any of the Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles and they give you some nice freebies (like parking and a photo souvenir!).

The scale of the studio might be smaller than the other three major studios, but there’s still a lot to see. And despite the lack of big blockbuster sets, they make up for it in different ways (like seeing the inside of a game show set, and a foley stage).

Like Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures studio tours, they ask that you arrive 30 minutes early to go through security. 

If you drive there, they offer FREE valet parking in the Overland lot. 

The studio is very much out of the way, so plan your meals and snacks in advance. All they had at the studio was a vending machine .

Don’t expect to see large outdoor sets like from Warner Bros. or Paramount, SONY is a lot smaller, so most of their sets are on sound stages. So if you’re interested in the big New York outdoor sets, SONY isn’t for you!

Overview, What’s The Best Studio Tour In Los Angeles?

Like I said before, Universal Studios is the most expensive, but you do get an entire days worth of activities. But if your intent is to learn about movie magic, the other three are better choices. 

If you have time for more than one, you don’t need to see both Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures. There’s quite a bit of overlap between the two. Instead, choose one of those, and then either Universal or SONY as your second option.

P.S. Need A Place To Stay In L.A.? Hotel Recommendations

Finding a place to stay in Los Angeles can be quite overwhelming – it’s HUGE!

I stayed at the Sofitel and would highly recommend it. It was in a safe area, and across the street from the Beverly Hills mall (which proved to be very convenient). It was also within walking distance to some local restaurants you need to try – like the Kings Road Cafe! See room rates & availability here .

If you want to stay on the beach outside of the city life instead, we stayed at The Georgian in Santa Monica and couldn’t recommend it enough! It’s only about a 25 minute drive from the city. This was a beautiful art deco hotel that is begging you to go there! It’s a minutes walk to the beach, Santa Monica Pier, and the Third Street Promenade. See room rates & availability here .

For more accommodation options in Los Angeles, click here . Interested in longer stays in L.A. check out Plum Guide here .

My California Amazon Must Haves

Related Posts

• How To Spend One Day In San Diego: What To See, Eat & Do
• How To Plan The Ultimate Vacation To Santa Monica

Last update on 2024-06-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Tuesday 26th of September 2023

You've gotten me excited about my next trip to Los Angeles. I've done the Universal tour and the Warner Bros tour, so I may do what you suggested and do Paramount and Sony next.

You're right about Universal's tour being more of a ride from what I remember. However, it was cool to see sets from The Good Place, Jaws, and Psycho. Being on the tram the whole time was a little different, and my experience was a bit thrown off because I hadn't expected Universal, CA to have such similar rides to Universal, FL, and I loved how Universal, FL made it really seem like you were on a set walking through various cities. Definitely not the same as CA. I think I was there for about 2 hours and was done. The weather was weird where it was kindof warm at first, but then turned super cold while I was in line for a ride, so I was done sooner than I expected.

I absolutely loved the Warner Bros tour. The guide was super nice and knowledgeable. I almost died when I saw the Gilmore Girl house and Luke's Diner. Of course I took pictures at the Central Perk. To me, the prop museum was a tad boring, but still overall decent. The tour was partially walking and partially riding. There were so many moments where I was like...."this looks familiar" and had to think of where the set had been used. Super cool. I highly recommend it.

Wednesday 27th of September 2023

That's awesome!! Definitely I enjoyed that the Warners brothers was mixed with walking and a tram ride you were able to get so much further that way - and the lot is HUGE! It really is cool seeing sets from your favourite TV shows and movies! I really liked the SONY tour but it was definitely a lot smaller than Warner bros!

Sunday 19th of February 2023

Hi Meghan, great article. Easy to read and allowed me to choose the studio we should visit in the short time we will be in L.A. Thanks you.

Monday 20th of February 2023

That's awesome to hear! Glad I could help :D :D

How To Plan Your Los Angeles Vacation | Afternoon Tea Reads

Thursday 1st of October 2020

[…] sure which one to visit? Read my overall review of each studio tour to help you […]

Monday 1st of July 2019

Wow what a great list of tours to choose from! I personally don't like these types of things however I think your post will be super useful for those who do!

Thanks! I hope it will be :)

I’ve done the Universal tour but it was like 20 yrs ago! I really want to go back and do all these studio tours. I’m film mad me 😃💕

Oh wow, you really should I'm sure a lot has changed since then. It's a movie geeks dream :)

Check out videos on hundreds of California adventures

Paramount Pictures Studio Tour in Hollywood

When visiting Hollywood, most people want to see something related to the movies. While there is the famous walk of fame and places like that, one of the best ways to go behind the scenes of the movies is to tour one of the studio backlots. There are four ways to do this, Sony, Warner Brothers , Universal, and Paramount. I have done all of them but Sony and enjoyed each one. One note, it is a little pricey but is it one of those unique things you can really only do in Hollywood, here is all the information.

• Tour information here
• Parking cost $15 unless you can find street parking
• This information is from my visit in 2018

Getting There

If you are staying in Los Angeles, using Uber or Lyft is probably the best way to get to the studio and save the parking fees. If you drive, there is a lot right across the street from the main entrance, but it does cost $15. This parking lot is what we used when we went.

After heading across the street and checking in 15 minutes before our tour, we were ushered into a waiting room that had a bunch of clothing, props, and movie clips from some of the famous films that were shot on the lot.

When it was time for our tour to start, our guide met us and took us through a few rooms showing us more props and telling us about the history of the studio. One of the things I appreciated was that these tours were small, with six people max, so it was a much more personal experience that made the price worth it.

We got on a golf cart, which is what we spent the next hour and a half on as we zipped around the backlot. There were lots of chances to get off and walk around as well.

The first stop we made was at one of the sound studios where they shoot movie scenes, and it was cool to see what movies had been filmed here on the plaque outside.

From there, we went to the recreation of the New York and Chicago city streets. Our guide showed us clips from many of the movies that had been filmed on the streets as we walked around.

It was amazing to see how these places can be transformed to work for so many different types of backdrops in many movies I had actually seen but had no idea were filmed here.

This was what made the tour so great as it gave you an appreciation for the work that goes into making each scene of a movie.

From there, we continued around the backlot and got out at more studios and learned more about the different productions.

We got to go to the main entrance as well which, was set up for Christmas and which had the bench from Forest Gump that you could sit on.

The last stop we made was at a set up sound studio for the Netflix show Frankie and Grace. I couldn’t take photos inside, but it was so fun to be able to walk through an actual set like this.

After getting back to where the tour started, there was one more stop at a large prop room.

This room had all sorts of props from popular movies that you could see up close and even interact with. It was entertaining to see all of them, and my favorite was the Optimus Prime truck that was just sitting in the room.

Honestly, I was impressed with this tour, and even though it is pricy for a family, it was a unique experience and something that can really only be seen in Hollywood. If you are interested in movies, check it out or tour one of the other studios around the city. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Similar Posts

How Disney’s Cars Land Compares to Historic Route 66

North Dome Hike & Indian Rock Arch Stargazing

Cabazon Dinosaurs: The Biggest Dinosaur in the World

Switzer Falls Hike in Angeles National Forest

Boiling Mud Pots of the Salton Sea

Font’s Point: Anza Borrego State Park’s Best View

Guide to Los Angeles' Studio Tours

 Universal Studios

Going on a studio tour in Los Angeles is a great way to get a behind-the-scenes look at some of your favorite TV and movie sets. As a tourgoer, you'll get to see some of the most iconic backdrops in town, from Monica's apartment on "Friends" to the RV from "Breaking Bad"—but access is limited and be aware that your favorite movie scenes might actually be just a bunch of warehouses full of lights, cables, and set pieces.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

Warner Bros.' studio tour in Burbank entails both walking and riding in a cart around to working sets (although rarely are there any actors around). It's the most expensive of the studio tours, but that's because it's a bigger studio and it's also home to some of the most familiar stages like "Friends," "Big Bang Theory," the Harry Potter series, and more. There's even a working Central Perk Café on-site. The regular tour takes three hours and there's also a deluxe version that takes six hours.

Paramount Studio Tour

TripSavvy / Kayte Deioma

Two-hour cart tours of the studio behind the famous Paramount Arches are offered several times a day. Here, you'll see the Bronson Gate, the New York Street Backlot (which is designed to look like NYC), and the Prop Warehouse. You might recognize things from "Forrest Gump" and "I Love Lucy." The VIP Paramount Studio Tour includes a gourmet lunch and talks with archivists and last four hours, 30 minutes long.

Sony Pictures Studios Tour

Michael Kovac / Getty Images

The two-hour guided walking tour of Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City includes photo opportunities on the "Jeopardy" set and in front of the mobile meth lab from "Breaking Bad." Tours are offered four times a day Monday through Friday, but they can get very busy—probably because this is one of the cheapest studio tours in town—so it's recommended to make a reservation beforehand.

Universal Studios Tour

Universal Studios Tours are unique in that they're actually part of the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park . You'll have to pay theme park prices to take the tram tour, which includes special effects sets so you get to experience earthquakes, floods, car crashes, "King Kong" in 3D, and a "Fast and the Furious" simulation along the way. You'll also get to see outdoor backlot sets that have been used in TV shows and famous movies like "Psycho" and "War of the Worlds." The route is ever-changing depending on which sets are in use.

Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio & Museum

Rick R.1 / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio in Newhall, north of Los Angeles, is a working set for everything from westerns to war movies. Its museum houses nine decades of movie memorabilia, including the famous "Dukes of Hazard" car. Tours of the 22-acre lot are only available for groups, but if you come in April, you might be able to attend the annual Cowboy Festival  (that is if it doesn't get relocated due to filming).

Paramount Ranch

Patrick Slaven / Flickr CC By-NC 2.0

In addition to the Paramount Studio Tour, you can also visit Paramount Ranch , located in the Santa Monica Mountains. This old western movie set was built back in 1927 and operated for 25 years. After that, it changed hands numerous times, until the National Park Service finally took it over. It is still available for use as a film set or for weddings, but it's open to the public, so you can sometimes watch filming from afar. The ranch is a hub for surrounding hiking and equestrian trails. Best of all, it's free to visit. 

The 11 Best Rides at Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood Visitors Guide

48 Hours in Los Angeles: The Ultimate Itinerary

Planning a Trip to Universal Studios Hollywood

Top 15 Selfie-Worthy Sights in LA

19 Fun Things to Do in Los Angeles, California at Night

The Paramount Studio Tour in Hollywood

16 Best Things to Do in Hollywood

One Day Los Angeles Self-Driving Tour

Hotels in Los Angeles - Guide to Finding the Best Place to Stay

Our Favorite 15 Rainy Day Activities in Los Angeles

How to Visit Los Angeles Without a Car

Los Angeles: Planning Your Trip

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

What to See and Do on Hollywood Boulevard

What’s new on Paramount+ in June 2024

J eremy Renner survived a near-fatal accident last year, and now he’s back on  Paramount+ in June for the third season of Mayor of Kingstown . That’s a major accomplishment in of itself, and we’re understandably curious to see if Renner had to cut back on some of the more physical aspects of the show. But it’s still exciting to have him back, and that’s just one of the many shows and movies wee have to look foraward to this month on Paramount+. On June 6, Criminal Minds: Evolution is starting its second season on the streamer.

Cyndi Lauper may no longer be the music superstar that she was in the ’80s, but she is getting her due this month with a documentary called  Let the Canary Sing . The other music-related documentary in June is How Music Got Free , which offers a look back at how file sharing almost destroyed the industry during the days of Napster.

There are also some really great movies to watch in June, including Casino Royale , Rocky Balboa , Blazing Saddles , Chasing Amy , Galaxy Quest , and Shutter Island . Unfortunately, certain titles are only available on Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers. Keep that in mind when looking over our roundup of everything new on Paramount+ in June 2024. The shows and movies below marked with an asterisk (*) are only available on Paramount+ with Showtime. Titles marked with a double asterisk (**) can be live-streamed from CBS by Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers. Our picks for the month are in bold.

And if you subscribe to other streaming services, we also have helpful guides to the best movies on Netflix and best shows on Netflix , as well as the best movies streaming on Amazon  and  best TV shows streaming on Amazon , plus plenty of guides for Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max.

Everything new on Paramount+ in June

• 10 Cloverfield Lane*
• 13 Going on 30*
• A Man Called Horse
• American Beauty
• Animal Kingdom
• Black Sheep
• Black Snake Moan*
• Blazing Saddles
• But I’m a Cheerleader
• Chantilly Bridge
• Chasing Amy*
• Coach Carter
• Critical Condition
• Crocodile Dundee*
• Crocodile Dundee II*
• Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles*
• Dog Day Afternoon
• Failure to Launch
• Flags of Our Fathers
• From Dusk Till Dawn
• From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money
• From Dusk Till Dawn 3: The Hangman’s Daughter
• Galaxy Quest
• Harlem Nights
• Head of State
• Hustle & Flow
• In & Out*
• In The Bedroom
• It Takes Two
• Kiss The Girls
• North of Normal
• Pretty In Pink
• Save the Last Dance
• She’s All That
• She’s the Man
• Sherlock Gnomes
• Shutter Island
• Some Kind of Wonderful
• Son of Rambow
• Summer of Sam
• Texas Rangers*
• The African Queen
• The Beach Bum*
• The Brady Bunch Movie
• The Cookout*
• The Fighting Temptations
• The Honeymooners
• The Impossible*
• The Last Airbender
• The Last Castle
• The Lookout*
• The Love Guru*
• The Queens of Comedy
• The Quiet Man
• The Raid: Redemption
• The Shootist
• The Sons of Katie Elder
• The Way Way Back
• There Will Be Blood
• Trading Places*
• Unidentified Objects
• Vampire in Brooklyn
• Mayor of Kingstown season 3 premiere
• I.S.S. premiere*
• Let the Canary Sing premiere
• Peppa Pig: Peppa’s Adventures Around the World
• Criminal Minds: Evolution new season premiere
• The 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards**
• Transformers: EarthSpark season two premiere
• How Music Got Free premiere
• Jersey Shore Family Vacation (Season 6)
• Casino Royale*
• Rocky Balboa*
• The Greatest @Home Videos (Season 4)
• The 77th Annual Tony Awards**
• Nick Cannon Presents: Future Superstars (Season 1)
• The Challenge (Season 39)
• The Smurfs (2021) (Season 2)
• El Chicano*
• Out of Darkness premiere*
• MTV Cribs (Season 19)
• On The Fly: Adventures at Altitude (Season 1)
• The Last 747
• The Real CSI: Miami**

Live Sports

• 6/1: We Need to Talk presented by AT&T*
• 6/1: UEFA Champions League Final – Borussia Dortmund vs. Real Madrid
• 6/1-6/2: PGA Tour – RBC Canadian Open (Third and Final Round Coverage)*
• 6/2: PBR – Professional Bull Riders Rodeo*
• 6/2: Course Record with Michael Breed*
• 6/2: Serie A – Atalanta vs. Fiorentina
• 6/8: NWSL – NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Angel City FC*
• 6/8-6/9: PGA Tour – the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (Third and Final Round Coverage)*
• 6/9: PGA TOUR Originals: One Shot Away*
• 6/9: NWSL – Kansas City Current vs. Seattle Reign
• 6/13: Argentina LPF – Riestra vs., River Plate
• 6/14: Argentina LPF – Boca Juniors vs. Vélez Sarsfield
• 6/15: WNBA – Connecticut Sun @ Dallas Wings*
• 6/15: BIG3 Basketball*
• 6/16: WNBA – Chicago Sky @ Indiana Fever*
• 6/16: LPGA – Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give (First Round Coverage)*
• 6/16: NWSL – Seattle Reign vs. Portland Thorns FC*
• 6/19: NWSL – NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. San Diego Wave
• 6/22: BIG3 Basketball*
• 6/22-6/23: PGA Tour – Travelers Championship (Third and Final Round Coverage)*
• 6/23: Mubadala New York Sail Gran Prix*
• 6/23: Course Record with Michael Breed*
• 6/29: BIG3 Basketball*
• 6/29-6/30: PGA Tour – Rocket Mortgage Classic (Third and Final Round Coverage)*
• 6/30: PGA TOUR Special – The John Shippen*
• 6/30: LPGA – Dow Championship (First Round Coverage)*
• 6/23: NWSL – Portland Thorns vs. Kansas City Current, Seattle Reign vs. Racing Louisville, North Carolina Courage vs. Chicago Red Stars
• 6/30: NWSL – Angel City FC vs. Orlando Pride

Throughout June

• Argentina Liga Profesional de Fútbol competition
• NWSL competition

Watch CBS News

The-Dream, Grammy-winning longtime Beyoncé collaborator, sued by ex-protégé over alleged sexual abuse

By Marissa Wenzke

June 5, 2024 / 5:51 PM PDT / KCAL News

Music producer The-Dream is being sued by a former collaborator who alleges that she was sexually abused by the eight-time Grammy award winner after he promised to help her career as an aspiring young artist.

Filed Tuesday in a Los Angeles federal court, the lawsuit accuses The-Dream, whose legal name is Terius Gesteelde-Diamant, of subjecting Chanaaz Mangroe, 33,  to "violent sexual acts and vicious psychological torture" after an associate of the producer allegedly contacted Mangroe over Instagram in late 2014 when she was 23 years old. 

Mangroe, a singer from the Netherlands whose stage name is Channii Monroe, said she first met The-Dream — the songwriter behind hits such as Rihanna's "Umbrella," Beyoncé's "Single Ladies" and Justin Bieber's "Baby" — when she was living in the U.S. on an artist's visa sponsored by a U.S.-based production company.

According to the lawsuit, the producer allegedly told Mangroe at the start of their professional relationship that he would write hit songs for her and promised her an opening spot on Beyoncé's upcoming tour. Mangroe's lawsuit alleges that she was forced to "diet and exercise excessively" in preparation for the tour and that she was subjected to an "abusive, violent, and manipulative relationship" with the producer.

Mangroe alleges in her lawsuit that she was not paid for her music, which she claims was "taken from her without any explanation." 

"To this day, Ms. Mangroe is in the dark about whether or not she is still bound to Dream and Contra Paris, who owns her music rights, or where the recordings of her work are located," the lawsuit states.

In a statement provided to The New York Times , the producer denied the allegations against him. 

"These claims are untrue and defamatory," reads the statement to the Times. "I oppose all forms of harassment and have always strived to help people realize their career goals. As someone committed to making a positive impact on my fellow artists and the world at large, I am deeply offended and saddened by these accusations."

Along with The-Dream, defendants named in the lawsuit include The-Dream's label, Contra Paris, and Epic Records. Epic Records did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"It is not clear if Contra Paris ever signed any artists to its label (aside from Ms. Mangroe), or whether any records were released by the label," the lawsuit states. "Today, the Contra Paris website appears partially defunct."

Mangroe alleges in the lawsuit that in July 2016, more than a year after she first met The-Dream,  she was told that Epic Records "no longer wanted to distribute her music because Dream failed to deliver the records." She claims in her lawsuit that The-Dream kept her out of the loop for months, did not invite her to meetings and did not include her in conversations about her music or her status with Epic.

According to the lawsuit, Mangroe decided to sue in order to "speak up for herself and other female artists who have been tormented by powerful and selfish men in the recording industry."

Marissa Wenzke is a journalist based in Los Angeles. She has a bachelor's degree in political science from UC Santa Barbara and is a graduate of Columbia Journalism School.

Featured Local Savings

More from cbs news.

Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter, pleads guilty to federal charges

Palmdale father charged with murder for 3-week-old infant's death

Airbnb robbed by 5 armed men in East Hollywood, LAPD search for suspects

17-year-old dead, 4 others hurt after head-on crash in Playa Del Rey

Mixed team golf competition could be Olympic event at Los Angeles 2028

Olympic Golf

An aerial view of the Riviera Country Club clubhouse. (Ben Jared/PGA TOUR)

Change Text Size

What if there were a mixed team event during the golf competition at the Paris Olympics? What if Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda – the two most dominant athletes in the game right now – could team up to represent the United States?

Such a monumental pairing won’t happen at Le Golf National in August because the Olympic golf competition currently consists of two individual stroke-play tournaments. But there is a very real possibility that a mixed team event could be added to the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

A proposal to include a 36-hole team competition at The Riviera Country Club was submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in January. The event would feature 16 teams playing one round of foursomes (alternate shot) and one of four-ball (best ball). The teams would be selected from the 60 men and 60 women already qualified for individual play based on the Olympic Golf Ranking.

The mixed team event would be held on the Sunday and Monday between the men’s and women’s 72-hole individual tournaments. That would necessitate moving the men’s tournament to Wednesday-Saturday, but the women’s schedule would stay the same.

Antony Scanlon, the executive director of the International Golf Federation (IGF), said the LA 2028 organizing committee is fully supportive of the concept. The IGF, which consists of 151 member federations from 146 countries, is recognized by the IOC as the governing body for all things related to Olympic golf.

Scanlon said the IOC will be looking at the submissions from various sports for inclusion in the 2028 Games in the coming months. He expects to have continued conversations with IOC officials between now and the end of the year.

“At the beginning of next year, they should make the decision as to what events will be in the program for L.A.,” Scanlon said. “And we're hoping that the fact that there's no additional athletes and no additional resources required that the mixed event would be approved by them, especially given the support of the organizing committee.”

The actual qualification system for the teams doesn’t have to be submitted to the IOC until 2026. The field will be drawn from the top 16 countries that have a male and female athlete who, in consultation with their respective National Olympic Committee, wish to enter. At this point, it will likely only be one team per country to ensure the broadest possible representation.

Scanlon said IGF officials have canvassed the top male and female players in the world and there is solid support for a mixed team event. Count Justin Rose, who won the gold medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, among those who would like to see it.

“I'm all for that,” said Rose, who teamed with the LPGA’s Charley Hull to tie for ninth at last year’s Grant Thornton Invitational. “I think for me, one thing that I really feel strongly about is that the Olympics should represent the best players in the world and the best players in the world should be competing in the Olympics.

“I think that there should be an individual competition front and center for sure, but if there's a chance for a second medal … I'm so up for that as a different format or an additional format in the Olympics.

“Many sports have multiple disciplines that can accrue multiple medals. … Obviously the individual side, I think really proves who's the best player on that week. … But if there's a secondary opportunity, I think that'd be fantastic.”

Mike Tirico, who will host NBC’s primetime coverage of the Olympics for the fourth time in Paris, is a big proponent of including a mixed team event in the golf competition. The veteran broadcaster says the concept would be in line with the Olympics’ move toward adding mixed gender events like relays in swimming and track and field that started four years ago in Tokyo.

“They were wildly successful and popular and cool to see,” Tirico said. “Secondly, one of the big proud bullet points for the International Olympic Committee, and it should be, is that at this year's Olympics, the medal distribution is exactly even -- it's 50% female, 50% male. They've achieved great gender equality when it comes to the number of opportunities to win medals in the Olympic Games.”

An avid golfer, Tirico remembers the now defunct JC Penney Classic, a fall event that brought together two-person teams from the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour. More recently, he spoke with players like Tony Finau and Rickie Fowler and world No. 1 Nelly Korda and saw how excited they were to play in the inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational last November.

“And for those of us who are golfers, we know those events are fun to see,” Tirico said. “ And if you get, gosh, one of the Kordas and Scottie Scheffler playing for Team USA -- first off, that's a hell of a ball striking combo, right? Korda and Scheffler would be in every fairway, right?

“But what fun, what fun that would be for fans of either tour to be watching together, the two best representing in the USA, whatever country it is. And from a global perspective with Ireland and Korea and England and all that, it would be awesome …

“I think if there's anything that could show growth of golf in the Olympics, this is right for it. It's right under the sport’s nose, and it's really easy to do because there are 60-person fields in each of the events. You can pull it off and I think it'll be a grand slam.”

Anohni and the Johnsons Set First North American Tour Dates in Years

• By Kory Grow

For the first time in nearly a decade, Anohni will embark on a North American tour, this time backed by her group, the Johnsons. Last year, Anohni and the Johnsons released one of the most arresting albums of the year, My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross , which contained the single “Why Am I Alive Now?” whose music video was directed by Hunter Schafer . Rolling Stone dubbed the LP one of the 20 best albums of 2023 . The tour dates mark Anohni’s first tour with the Johnsons since 2010.

“I am presenting a series of concerts in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada this fall,” Anohni said in a statement. “It is my first time touring since 2016, and first time with a band in 14 years. I feel like I want to sing for people, to affirm that these times are unprecedented, and to hold and express a sense of what’s really happening.”

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. local time on June 14.

Meet the New Cast of ‘Love Island USA' Season Six

Sturgill simpson is back with new tour, new album ... and a new name, 'the acolyte': this 'star wars' prequel series isn't a force to be reckoned with, normani channeled janet, recruited brandy, and put 'absolutely everything' into her album 'dopamine'.

Anohni and the Johnsons Tour Dates:

Sept. 24 – Mexico City, MX @ Teatro Metropólitan Sept. 27 – Los Angeles, CA @ Walt Disney Concert Hall Sept. 28 – Los Angeles, CA @ Walt Disney Concert Hall Oct. 1 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater Oct. 5 – Vancouver, BC @ The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts Oct. 7 – Seattle, WA @ The Paramount Theatre Oct. 12 – Chicago, IL @ Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center Oct. 15 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall Oct. 18 – Brooklyn, NY @ BAM Howard Gilman Opera House Oct. 19 – Brooklyn, NY @ BAM Howard Gilman Opera House

Travis Scott Moves to Dismiss Sample Lawsuit Over ‘Alright, Alright, Alright’ Lyrics

• Copyright Claims
• By Jon Blistein

Gloria Trevi Sex Abuse Lawsuits: Search for Music Producer Sergio Andrade Intensifies

• 'Seemingly Disappeared'
• By Nancy Dillon

Halsey Details 'Rocky Start' in Recovery From Lupus, Rare T-Cell Disorder

• Hopeful and Healing
• By Larisha Paul

Neko Case to Release Memoir, Which Will 'Cast a Spell of Love,' Next Year

• A Case of Her

Adam Levine Returning to 'The Voice' on Season 27 Coaching Panel Alongside Kelsea Ballerini

• Planning for the Future

Most Popular

Jennifer lopez cancels summer tour, monet painting at the musée d’orsay vandalized by climate activist, insiders claim taylor swift is deeply ‘worried’ about this aspect of travis kelce’s new lifestyle, 'the rings of power' actor confirmed not returning for season 2, you might also like, dakota fanning reveals the birthday gift tom cruise gives her every year since 2005’s ‘war of the worlds’: ‘he sends me shoes’, virginie viard, artistic director of chanel, departs, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors, a talk series john mulaney ‘was intrigued by six live nights’ and all the wacky possibilities, ai video firm spiideo lands $20m venture capital investment.

Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.

Verify it's you

Please log in.

Paramount Pictures Studio Tour

• See all photos

Hollywood Tour: Sightseeing by Electric Bike

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Paramount Pictures Studio Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

With a disastrous summer box office, Hollywood reaps what it sowed

• Show more sharing options
• Copy Link URL Copied!

A Hollywood movie can be two things at the same time. It can be a great piece of art and also a poor business decision. It often takes years to find out if the first designation applies. With the second, people know right away, for the most part.

“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” is a commercial bomb. There’s no way around it. The prequel opened to a disappointing $32 million during the long Memorial Day weekend. In its second go-around, it dropped 59%, coming in third place behind Sony Pictures’ animated “The Garfield Movie” and Paramount Pictures’ John Krasinski-directed hybrid “If.”

The George Miller-directed action thriller’s box office tally of $50 million domestic ($114 million worldwide) so far on a $168-million production budget is just plain bad, adding to the summer woes that have the movie exhibition industry in a spiral of existential dread , once again.

The numbers for the theater chains are worrying, overall, with May doing nothing to quell the trepidation that kicked off with the previous month and the sluggishness of “ The Fall Guy .”

According to David A. Gross’s FranchiseRe newsletter — a reliable source of level headed box office analysis — May domestic grosses were down 43% from the average of the three years before the COVID-19 pandemic. Ticket sales so far this year have fallen nearly 25% from the same period in 2023.

The reasons for the decline are fairly straightforward. I tend to agree with Gross’ perspective: that for a variety of reasons, including production delays induced by last year’s writers’ and actors’ strikes and a general pullback by cost-conscious studios, there haven’t been enough movies, and the films that have been released aren’t hitting in the way they need to be.

The hollowed out release schedule is doing the expected damage. This past weekend had no new releases in the domestic top five. This week, Sony will try to liven things up with “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.”

“Moviegoing thrives on momentum and rhythm: one strong movie after another bringing fans to the multiplex once or more per month,” Gross wrote. “Right now, the schedule is thin, several big releases fell short, and the original stories are not breaking through (with the exception of ‘If’).”

It’s also clear to me that there are broader structural issues at work. The combination of the pandemic theater closures, the six-month production disruption and the age of post-streaming wars austerity has conspired to constrict the supply of studio films in theaters. But there’s also the increasing consumer mind-share taken up by streaming, video games, social media and cheap, free short-form online content.

Add to that the entertainment giants’ self-sabotaging strategy of shortening the theatrical window in a way that has trained at least some viewers to wait at home for anything other than a “Barbenheimer”-level cultural phenomenon. There’s also the fact that consumer motivations have changed in a fundamental way for a number of people. If seeing a movie in theaters doesn’t have any social media cachet, why bother paying a babysitter?

But these issues don’t explain the failure of “Furiosa,” which was fairly predictable. Prequels are a tough sell for audiences. How many prequels have actually succeeded in recent years? Certainly not “Solo: A Star Wars Story.” Paramount will again test the audience’s appetite later this month with “A Quiet Place: Day One,” an extension of its successful horror franchise.

By the way, maybe let’s stop putting “A So-and-So Story and/or Saga” in movie titles for the time being. That formulation doesn’t appear to be enticing people.

Anyway, “Furiosa’s” struggles have inspired think pieces positing that Hollywood has fallen victim to its own sky-high, irrational box office expectations . My colleague Mary McNamara made such an argument, referring to the current situation as a “ box office doom loop .”

My own reaction to the “Furiosa” performance is narrower and more basic. The movie just didn’t work as a commercial product.

As we’ve discussed previously , “Mad Max: Fury Road,” which grossed $380 million globally, wasn’t even that big of a hit in the first place, though its reputation has grown massively since its debut in 2015. So yes, betting on a prequel was a major gamble, banking on the hope that people outside the core demographic of men over age 35 would care. Generally speaking, they didn’t.

A big budget bomb is undoubtedly bad news for Warner Bros. But it says something about the state of the film business that the fate of Warner Bros. Discovery hinges more on whether David Zaslav can hold onto the NBA rights for TNT.

So yes, film fans can be grateful that “Furiosa” exists and disappointed that it flopped. But while the film depicts the aftermath of a terrifying apocalypse, it isn’t, by itself, necessarily a sign of one.

You’re reading the Wide Shot

Ryan Faughnder delivers the latest news, analysis and insights on everything from streaming wars to production — and what it all means for the future.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

Stuff we wrote

Skydance’s David Ellison nearing deal for Paramount after sweetened offer. Both sides are optimistic that they are on the finish line of a agreement. Competing offers have come in for Paramount’s parent company, National Amusements, but controlling shareholder Shari Redstone has long favored Ellison’s proposal.

Los Angeles loses ground to rivals in film and TV employment but remains the biggest player . L.A. is still the film and TV industry leader despite production levels rising in rival markets, according to a new Otis College report.

What’s going on with loan-out corporations? Hollywood workers seek answers . Hollywood labor unions are “closely” monitoring a move by the California Employment Development Department to crack down on loan-out companies, which are widely used in the entertainment industry.

How Netflix is using ‘Too Hot to Handle’ games to build its reality TV audience . As Netflix continues to invest more in games, it is expanding its titles based on its popular reality shows, including “Too Hot to Handle” and “Selling Sunset.”

Other news:

AMC Theatres CEO says leaks nearly tanked Beyoncé deal Nelson Peltz cashed out his Disney stake Spotify raises prices on premium plans Trump felony conviction coverage boosts ratings

Number of the week

Think Netflix’s film business is all about computer-generated action (“Red Notice”) and would-be Oscar bait (“May December” and “Maestro”)? That idea is belied by the company’s most recent trove of viewership data , which covers the second half of last year.

The charts show that the No. 1 movie on Netflix during the last six months of 2023 was what many might consider a surprising choice: “Leave the World Behind.”

Sam Esmail’s adult-skewing apocalyptic drama, starring Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke and Mahershala Ali, generated 121 million views globally on the platform. Netflix says the film, based on the Rumaan Alam novel of the same name, is its fifth most-watched movie ever.

Why might that be? Reviews were solid, though not universally positive. The book was well received, but it’s not a massive piece of established intellectual property. What’s clear is that star power matters on streaming, and Roberts is a big enough name to get viewers’ attention when her face shows up on the Netflix carousel.

“Leave the World Behind” was released under the Netflix film regime led by Scott Stuber, who has been replaced by Dan Lin. Netflix’s film strategy might change (perhaps by backing away from auteur-led passion projects and blockbuster-type movies starring the Rock). However, star-driven down-the-middle projects seem to work well for the company.

Another big film title for Netflix was “Leo,” the Adam Sandler talking lizard cartoon, which garnered 96 million views, which, by the way, are calculated by dividing the time spent watching by the movie’s run time.

“Leo” is the most popular Netflix animated film to date, according to the company. Netflix is still benefiting from getting into the Sandler business, an early decision by the company that bolstered its viewership with flicks such as “Murder Mystery” and “Hubie Halloween.” With “Leo,” it seems the relationship is still paying off.

Film shoots

Production in Los Angeles last week was still down 13% from a year ago, according to FilmLA.

Finally ...

The Atlantic published what should be required reading for media pros and consumers: a thoughful piece from Jessica Lessin on the risks news organizations are taking by getting cozy with artificial intelligence firms.

The Wide Shot is going to Sundance!

We’re sending daily dispatches from Park City throughout the festival’s first weekend. Sign up here for all things Sundance, plus a regular diet of news, analysis and insights on the business of Hollywood, from streaming wars to production.

Ryan Faughnder is a senior editor with the Los Angeles Times’ Company Town team, which covers the business of entertainment. He also hosts the entertainment industry newsletter The Wide Shot. A San Diego native, he earned a master’s degree in journalism from USC and a bachelor’s in English from UC Santa Barbara. Before joining The Times in 2013, he wrote for the Los Angeles Business Journal and Bloomberg News.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Company Town

TikTok cyberattack targets CNN, Paris Hilton and other high-profile accounts

June 5, 2024

Move over, Barbie: Universal developing ‘Monster High’ film based on Mattel dolls

Jeffrey Katzenberg’s WndrCo investment firm raises more than $460 million

Netflix, Ava DuVernay settle defamation lawsuit brought by ‘When They See Us’ prosecutor

June 4, 2024

Paramount Pictures Studio Tour

• See all photos

Hollywood Tour: Sightseeing by Electric Bike

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Paramount Pictures Studio Tour - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)